Written By NAFSO on Monday, September 16, 2013 | 12:45:00 PM

On August 01st
the State Army took the lives of three youngsters who voiced for their right
for water. There were many others who got injured in this clash and
hospitalized. Lack of water was the protest of those people from twenty five
villages including those from the village of Rathupaswala. The Government Army
used brutal force to suppress the peoples protest.

We met people from
Rathupaswala village who spoke of the current situation and its many causes.

“All this started
in 1992. We saw this disaster at that time. We complained to the authorities and
made them aware of the situation. I filed a case. The Environmental Authority
was adamant to keep silent. It was proved at the case that the water is unclean
and cannot be used, however, everything turned to our disadvantage. I have four
acres of paddy. I couldn’t get into the field. My legs got affected by this
dirty water. Those who go to the field, died there itself. The story went that
it is Mee Una(leptospirosis). Seventeen died and ten became blind. Many others fell
ill. Once we bathe we feel faintish and have to sleep. This state did not
change. It continued. Once you drink water, your whole body gets totally dry.
So we drink more water. Our children complain that they have chest pains.
Children go to school with a digene tablet in their hand. We are almost dead
now. See my fingers.

The finger nails have fallen. Many people suffer in this
way. There’s enormous damage that has happened inside our bodies. But we want
to save our children”.

“We haven’t got any solution yet. We will fight
till a solution is met. It is so impractical the way they lay pipelines. It is
only for the four major towns that they have given pipelines. There are twenty
five villages when you come inside. To
lay pipelines for those towns they took one month. To give this service to the
villages, they will take ages! Enough is enough. We don’t need to pay and get
water. We have wells which are older than hundred years.”

Another farmer revealed the following:

“The factory takes water from the springs that
give water to the fields. Some of the villagers are supporting that. They get
paid for it. We know that some get 50,000 to 60,000 rupees. In one village
there are nearly 500 to 1000 families. Only 400 water tanks have been supplied
to all the villages. Even the water they provide is not drinkable. Also the
quantity of water they supply is insufficient. To don’t wash, we soak a piece
of cloth in water and wipe our bodies. Why do we need to suffer like this? We
had enough water and we drank enough. These officers, it is they who deprived
us of our water. The Sri Lanka Government and those responsible acted as if
they are deaf and blind. Next they attacked our people. They killed two school
going children and one youth. Why do they treat us like this?”

These stories were very emotional and there were
many of them. They were sad for what has happened. We asked them who would take
the leadership in this struggle. They said, “all of us are leaders. This not
only a common problem, water is our life. So this struggle is between life and
death. We need to sacrifice our lives and protect our children. It will take
ages for our ground to give us clean water. The earth is now angry with us!
This is a holocaust! They have destroyed our lives as well as our children’.
They have caused injustice to this earth”.

Another disclosed this story:

“First they brought two water bowsers. Now that
doesn’t happen. They don’t go inside the village. Those who have money pay 100 rupees and get a full tank
of water. I saw this. The next tank got only half. Now the water is muddy. We
are scared that our children will fall ill. Even in the other village the story
is the same. To understand our plight one has to experience this.”

Ven. Siridhamma takes the lead of this burning
issue. The villagers have a strong faith on him.

“I live with these villagers. They are quite
helpless at this time. We do not want to pay and get water. The officials try
to pacify us by giving water for some families in the village. Our demand is that everyone should get water”
says the thero.

“We want the support of all religious leaders. We
don’t have anything to do with political parties. But we ask everyone to join
us in this struggle to find a solution” he added.

We will not
pay money for water

The factory
should be closed down

Compensation
should be given to those families whose members died or got injured

Compensation
should be given for the spoilt wells

“The people do not know what to do. They are innocent.
Some with their opportunistic political agendas try to make use of this
struggle. Many groups are waiting to exploit these people. We are helpless, but
we are strong. Please join in our struggle for water”.

Water is life!

So, what is our duty should be?

The damage caused to one place affects all
places.

Today it is Rathupaswala….Tomorrow….?

“I see the suffering of my people in Egypt (villages around
Weliweriya)” said Lord(Exodus 3:7 )